Camera system in or for a motor vehicle and driver assistance system

Abstract

A camera arrangement for or in a motor vehicle includes at least one objective with each objective including at least one lens. A temperature measurement device is configured to measure the temperature of the objective and/or of the environment of the objective. A temperature adjustment device is thermally coupled to the at least one objective and configured to adjust the temperature of the objective as a function of the measured temperature.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A camera arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising:
 at least one objective with in each case at least one lens, 
 a temperature measurement device configured to measure the temperature of the objective and/or of the environment of the objective, 
 a temperature adjustment device thermally coupled to the at least one objective and configured to adjust the temperature of the objective as a function of the measured temperature, 
 wherein the temperature adjustment device includes a heating device configured to heat the objective, 
 wherein the temperature adjustment device includes an interface, via which the heating device can be coupled to a heating wire of a windshield heater and via which a heat flow can be tapped for heating the objective. 
 
     
     
       2. The camera arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature adjustment device includes a regulating device configured to adjust the temperature of the lens to a predetermined temperature. 
     
     
       3. The camera arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature adjustment device includes a regulating device configured to regulate the temperature of the lens in a predetermined temperature range. 
     
     
       4. The camera arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the regulating device is configured to perform pulse-width modulated regulation. 
     
     
       5. The camera arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature adjustment device includes a cooling device, configured to cool the objective. 
     
     
       6. The camera arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the heating device includes a heating wire, which is at least partly integrated into a housing of the objective and/or thermally coupled to the housing of the objective. 
     
     
       7. The camera arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lens is configured as a plastic lens. 
     
     
       8. The camera arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one objective has non-linear optical characteristics including a widened field of view. 
     
     
       9. The camera arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one objective is configured as a fisheye objective. 
     
     
       10. The camera arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the objective comprises a plurality of individual lenses arranged in a stack. 
     
     
       11. The camera arrangement  claim 1 , wherein the camera arrangement is configured as a stereo camera. 
     
     
       12. The camera arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the camera arrangement is configured as a front camera and wherein the camera arrangement includes a housing with a mounting area positioned and configured on the housing to be attached behind the windshield of a motor vehicle in such a way that the objective or its lens is aligned in the direction of travel with a free field of view. 
     
     
       13. The camera arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one image converter coupled to the objective and configured to convert the image information recorded by the objective into electrical image signals. 
     
     
       14. The camera arrangement of  claim 13 , wherein the image converter includes a temperature sensor, which forms the temperature measurement device. 
     
     
       15. The camera arrangement of  claim 13 , further comprising an image processing device configured to analyze the converted electrical image signals. 
     
     
       16. The camera arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the temperature adjustment device is configured to adjust and/or regulate the temperature of the objective as a function of the converted electrical image signals. 
     
     
       17. The camera arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the image processing device is configured to determine the sharpness of the image information recorded, wherein the temperature adjustment device is configured to adjust the temperature of the objective as a function of the sharpness determined. 
     
     
       18. A camera arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising:
 at least one objective with in each case at least one lens, 
 a temperature measurement device configured to measure the temperature of the objective and/or of the environment of the objective, 
 a temperature adjustment device thermally coupled to the at least one objective and configured to adjust the temperature of the objective as a function of the measured temperature, 
 wherein the camera arrangement is configured as a stereo camera. 
 
     
     
       19. A camera arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising:
 at least one objective with in each case at least one lens, 
 a temperature measurement device configured to measure the temperature of the objective and/or of the environment of the objective, 
 a temperature adjustment device thermally coupled to the at least one objective and configured to adjust the temperature of the objective as a function of the measured temperature, 
 wherein the camera arrangement is configured as a front camera and wherein the camera arrangement includes a housing with a mounting area positioned and configured on the housing to be attached behind the windshield of a motor vehicle in such a way that the objective or its lens is aligned in the direction of travel with a free field of view. 
 
     
     
       20. A camera arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising:
 at least one objective with in each case at least one lens, 
 a temperature measurement device configured to measure the temperature of the objective and/or of the environment of the objective, 
 a temperature adjustment device thermally coupled to the at least one objective and configured to adjust the temperature of the objective as a function of the measured temperature, 
 at least one image converter coupled to the objective and configured to convert the image information recorded by the objective into electrical image signals, and 
 an image processing device configured to analyze the converted electrical image signals, 
 wherein the temperature adjustment device is configured to adjust and/or regulate the temperature of the objective as a function of the converted electrical image signals. 
 
     
     
       21. A camera arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising:
 at least one objective with in each case at least one lens, 
 a temperature measurement device configured to measure the temperature of the objective and/or of the environment of the objective, 
 a temperature adjustment device thermally coupled to the at least one objective and configured to adjust the temperature of the objective as a function of the measured temperature, 
 at least one image converter coupled to the objective and configured to convert the image information recorded by the objective into electrical image signals, and 
 an image processing device configured to analyze the converted electrical image signals, 
 herein the image processing device is configured to determine the sharpness of the image information recorded, wherein the temperature adjustment device is configured to adjust the temperature of the objective as a function of the sharpness determined.